Marci Hamilton is a conlawprof, active litigator before the Court (she won Boerne v. Flores against Doug Laycock in "a turf battle"), Findlaw columnist, and former clerk to retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
She has an analysis of the Justice's significance, below.
Prof. Hamilton appears to be exercising restraint as she heaps praise. SDOC is even bigger than Marci lets on, or will be so seen in future, I believe.